Massey Happy With The U's

U's winger Gavin Massey described his opening goal on the final day at Carlisle as being in 'slow motion', but that the unbridled joy at seeing the ball cross the line made everything worth it.

Massey opened the scoring at Brunton Park in the U's must-not-lose game to secure their League One survival, setting the U's well on their way to a comfortable 2-0 win to send Brian Laws' Scunthorpe side down to League Two.

The goal was a bit chaotic, with George Porter seeing an effort blocked, Billy Clifford firing one off the bar and then Massey's header, initially looking to be going wide, taking a wicked spin off the ground to roll over the line.

Speaking to BBC Essex after the game though, Massey admitted that the feeling was something that money can't buy and the reason why he plays the game.

'I'd been dreaming about scoring the winner and I'm happy to get an important goal for the team, the club and the manager,' he recalled. 'Everything was in slow motion and it just trickled in and you can't buy the emotions from that.

'That's why you play the game and I'm buzzing. We're all over the moon. It was in our hands and, with all the pressure that was on us, it was different class.'

It's been a breakthrough season for Massey who, after a productive loan spell at the Weston Homes Community Stadium last year, made the switch permanent in August when Watford saw an Italian influx of players.

Knowing his chances were increasingly limited, he madr the move to Essex and admitted that it had been a good choice to opt for the U's, where he picked up the Player's Player of the Year award on Tuesday night.

Massey has netted six times and made forty league appearances this season out of the forty-four he was available for, missing three of them through suspension after a red card at MK Dons.

'It's my first full season in football and I've played twenty-odd consecutive matches and forty-odd games,' he explained. 'But I'm just happy to be here. I left Watford to come here and I think I made a good decision.

'We've had massive support from the fans and this is what it's all about. They've been different class throughout the season, with the highs and the lows.

'I can't wait for the summer and knowing you're still a League One footballer will be great. It's all for the manager and, hopefully, we can all kick on next season now.'